Global press-freedom groups decry South Korean newspaper tax probe

By Gene Mater
freedomforum.org

09.22.01

Printer-friendly page

Major international press freedom organizations have restated their concerns that the tax probe of South Korean newspapers "might be only the beginning of a campaign against media critical" of the policies of President Kim Dae-jung.

Members of the Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organizations, meeting in Paris yesterday, said they were monitoring the events events in South Korea "with concern."

"The government's crackdown on alleged financial wrongdoing by the country's major media companies is likely to have profound implications for press freedom," a committee statement said.

While acknowledging President Kim's international reputation as a champion of democracy, which resulted in his winning the Nobel Peace Prize last year, the committee noted that "he has long had a contentious relationship with the press at home."

The arrest of three top media executives in mid-August on charges of tax evasion and embezzlement, the committee resolution notes, was characterized by some "as an attack on the independent press."

The arrests were followed on Sept. 4 by the indictment of the three executives plus 10 others on similar tax charges as the culmination of a national tax service audit that lasted many months of South Korea's largest media companies, termed "the most extensive audit of a single industry under the Kim administration."

The committee noted that 23 media companies are accused of tax evasion, and that conviction could result in the required payment of more than $390 million (U.S.) in fines and back taxes.

"The exorbitant fines threaten the very survival of most of the media companies, forcing many smaller newspapers into insolvency and others to apply for huge bank loans, thus subjecting them to the whims of financial institutions, which in turn are often under the direct or indirect influence of the Korean government," the committee agreed. "This has raised fears among the newspaper industry and opposition politicians that the way is being paved for more government influence or control of the independent media."

Regarding the government denials that the tax probe was politically motivated, the committee said it was "no coincidence that the media companies most skeptical of President Kim and his sunshine policy of engagement with communist North Korea have been among those hardest hit by the audits."

The resolution about South Korea concludes by arguing that the government must "insure that those facing prosecution receive a full and fair trial and in the meantime free the jailed newspaper publishers; re-affirm the principles of press freedom, which include the right of media companies to operate freely and without outside interference and with no government threats of laws of ownership control; and put an end to the intimidation of the country's news media."

In other resolutions, the committee:

• "Strongly condemned" the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and near Washington but emphasized that "any countermeasures must not infringe press freedom."
• Condemned "without reservation" the "outrageous and cowardly" attacks on news media by Basque terrorists.
• Deplored what it referred to as "the increasing acts of violence against journalists by paramilitaries, guerrillas and drug lords in Colombia, where dozens of journalists have been killed in the past 10 years and few have been brought to justice.
• Gave "full support" to editors and journalists, including foreign correspondents, working in Zimbabwe, where independent journalists have been targeted by the government and its supporters.

The Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organizations, which meets twice a year, includes representatives of the Committee to Protect Journalists, New York; Commonwealth Press Union, London; Inter American Press Association, Miami, Florida; International Association of Broadcasting, Montevideo, Uruguay; International Federation of the Periodical Press, London; International Press Institute, Vienna, Austria; World Association of Newspapers, Paris; the World Press Freedom Committee, Reston, Va., and the North American Broadcasters Association, Toronto.

Previous

Court hearings set in South Korean media mogul tax case
Some media organizations consider probe a threat to press freedom.  09.12.01

Related

Publishers, journalists condemn violence against press
Meeting in Spain produces statement against 'outrageous and cowardly' Basque terrorist attacks on news media.  09.15.01

Book details government efforts to gag South Korea's opposition press
Author claims that ‘preparations for the forced reform of the media were laid out as early as in 1998 and President Kim's top aides were heavily involved.’  10.26.01

IPI adds Zimbabwe to media 'watch list,' attacks situation in South Korea
International press-advocacy group tracks 'countries that appear to be moving towards restricting press freedom.'  10.22.01